In a significant advancement for Australia’s capability to produce and maintain sophisticated precision-guided munitions and missiles domestically, the government announced plans to invest up to $850 million in collaboration with Kongsberg Defence Australia. This partnership aims to manufacture and service the advanced Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM).
The announcement was made today by Pat Conroy, Minister for Defense Procurement, in Canberra. A new factory will be established near Newcastle Airport in New South Wales, where Australia maintains its F-35 fleet, with plans to employ approximately 100 workers.
This strategic move is expected to enhance supply chain reliability for countries across the Indo-Pacific that utilize these advanced missile systems. The JSM serves as a crucial armament for the F-35, which carries it internally, enabling the aircraft to preserve its advanced stealth capabilities until it is ready to engage. Australia first expressed interest in the JSM back in 2014. Current and future Pacific F-35 operators include Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States.
The Royal Navy is acquiring the NSM for its Type 23 frigates and Type 45 destroyers. Both the JSM and NSM are fifth-generation subsonic munitions, measuring nearly four meters in length, equipped with integrated sensors and autonomous targeting recognition for long-range precision strikes against naval vessels and land targets. The NSM will also be installed on Australia’s Hobart-class destroyers and Anzac-class frigates, replacing the older Harpoon missiles.
In July, Australia successfully test-fired the NSM, which boasts a range of 200 miles, from HMAS Sydney. The weapon is also in service with regional navies in Japan, Malaysia, and the United States.
“The factory will manufacture and service Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Joint Strike Missiles (JSM) for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It will be one of only two facilities globally able to produce these missile systems, with the other located in Kongsberg, Norway,” stated a government release.
This initiative marks a crucial step in what Australia refers to as the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise. With Kongsberg Defence Australia now added as a strategic partner, it joins Lockheed Martin and Raytheon in this endeavor. The GWEO is supported by a commitment of up to $21 billion over the next decade through the Government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program, as highlighted in the statement.
